Mattress.



Patented Mar. I3, |900. J. W.'CASE.

MATTRESS.

(Application led Dec. 1, 1899.)

TH: Norms szrzns co. Pncraumn., wxsnmaou. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT EErcE.

JAMES w. cAsE, or YPSILANTI, MICHTGAN, AssIcNoE or ONE-HALE To ALMERoN cRANDALL, on SAME PLACE.

MATTRESS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent o. 645,383, dated March 13, 1900. Application lecl December 1, 1899. Serial No. 738,907. (No model.)

To aIZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. CASE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ypsilanti, in the county of Washtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Mattress, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mattresses; and it has for one object to provide a new and useful article of this character so constructed as to permit of its being compactly rolled or folded when not in use, so as to occupy a comparatively-small compass, thereby facilitating the handling thereof for shipment or storage purposes.

A further object of the invention is to construct the mattress in a novel manner,where by the same will readily adjust itself to the weight of one or two persons, so as to properly distribute the strain upon the springs of the bed-bottom, and also to provide the individual sections of the mattress-body with ventilators which carry o the heat, and thereby serve to not only maintain the mattrees-body cool, but in a thoroughly sanitary and hygienic condition. 4

With these and other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illustrated, and claimed.

While the essential features of the invention may be susceptible to some modifications without departing from the scope thereof, still the preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a mattress constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse cross-sectional view of the mattress in its spread-out condition. Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the mattress body in its folded condition. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in perspective of an end portion of one of the mattress-sections,showing the end covering-flaps unfolded and exposing the ventilating-head within the end of the section. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailsectional View through one end of one of the mattress-sections.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the numeral l designates the mattress-body, formed of a series of longitudinally-arranged parallel parallelepiped sections 2,fleXibly connected together at their contiguous top edges to permit of the body being arranged in a iiat spread-out condition for use on the spring bed-bottom or transversely folded into a compact condition, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. In constructing the said mattress-body, composed of the duplicate flexibly-connected sections 2, the entire covering for the same consists of a single top sheet 3 and a bodysheet 4. The two cover-sheets 3 and 4 for the mattress are made of the usual cloth or textile material; but it will of course be understood that any equivalent material that could enter into the formation of the mattress may be used in making the top and body sheets 3 and 4.

In carrying out the present invention the sin gle top sheet 3 for the mattress-body is cut in a rectangular form and is of a sizel corresponding to the size of the bed in connection with which the mattress is to be used, while the main body-sheet 4 of the mattress is cut.

much larger than the top sheet and is formed with a plurality of 'parallel longitudinal folds 5. These parallel longitudinal folds of the body-sheet 4 extend lengthwise of the mattress-body at regularly-spaced intervals apart and are stitched or otherwise suitably fastened, as at 6, to the under -side of the top sheet 3, whereby a series of separate and independent closed filling-pockets constituting the individual sections 2 are formed, which fillingpockets are designed to be packed with the usual or any suitable lling material 7, which when closely packed into the pockets fills the same out and imparts thereto the parallelepiped form, whereby the same are of a cross-sectionally-rectangularshape.l This shape of the individual sections 2 of the mattress-body is preferably maintained by stitching tucks 7'L along the bottom corners of the sections, as plainly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

From the foregoing description it will be ICO iiD

observed that each parallelepiped section 2 of the mattress-body receives a separate lling and 'is inclosed at three sides bythe main body-sheet 4 and at the upper or top side by the top sheet 3, which top sheet, therefore, necessarily forms the top covering for the pockets of all of the individual sections 2, and by reason of stitching or otherwise fastening the body-sheet at the point G to the top sheet the latter necessarily forms a ilexible hinge connection between the contiguous top edges of the adjacent sections, thereby permitting the body to be readily spread out or the sections folded one upon the other, as shown, respectively, in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.

Each section 2 of the mattress-body has extended from the sides thereof and at each end the end covering-flaps S and 9, respectively, which are folded in and overlap upon the outer side of an end Ventilating-head 10, fitted inside of the end of the section adjacent to the liaps. The end Ventilating-head l0, which is iitted within each end of each body-section 2 of the mattress, preferably consists of a rectangular block of wood, although it will be understood that the same may be made of any other material suitable for the purpose, and by reason of the rectangular shape thereof the said ventilatingheads 10 not only serve to permit of freely ventilatin g each section of the mattress-body from both ends thereof, but at the same time serve to stiffen and strengthen the body-sections and to maintain the cross-sectionallyrectangular shape thereof.

The Ventilating-head 10 within each end of each body-section 2 is provided with ascreened Ventilating-opening 11, which provides communication between the interior of the mattress-body section and the outer air, and in order to provide for exposing the screened Ventilating-openings 11 of the heads 10 the end covering-flaps 8 and 9 at each end of the sections are arranged to have their edges terminate short of each other to leave an opening in communication with the screened Ventilating-openings 11. The Ventilating-heads lO are preferably retained in place by means of tacks or other suitable fasteners passing through the coverings 3 and 4 and into the edges of the heads, and the end covering-flaps 8 and 9 may be likewise fastened directly to the outer sides of the said Ventilating-heads, as plainlyshown in the drawings. It will thus be seen that the end flaps 8 and 9 at the ends p of the mattress-body sections completely cover the Ventilating-heads l0 with the exception of the screened Ventilating-openings 1l thereof, which are always left exposed for the thorough aeration of the mattress-body sections, as well as the ventilation thereof. The covering-fiaps 9 are designated as the flaps extending from the sides of the body-sections 2, and which are secured flat upon the outer sides of the Ventilating-heads; but in carry ing out the invention the other iiaps 8, folded in from the upper and lower sides of each body-section 2, are designed to be padded with suitable padding 12, filled into the pockets between the outer faces of the heads 10 and the said flaps S, thereby providing protective cushions at the ends of the mattress-body to prevent the Ventilating -heads from being knocked out of place or the bed injured by rough handling of the mattress.

By reason of the construction described it will be observed that the several individual sections 2 of the mattress-body are of comparatively-small dimension in cross-section, thereby permitting of using short hair for filling the pockets. The mattress can therefore be constructed with much less expense than mattresses formed in the usual way and which necessitate the use of long hair to prevent the formation of lumps. It will also be observed that the construction of the Inattress-body with a plurality of individual sections permits the body to freely adjust itself to the weight of the person or persons thereon, especially in the case of two persons of different weights occupying the bed, in which event the mattress will tend to evenly distribute the strain upon the bed-bottom.

It is important in carrying out the invention that the individual sections 2 extend lengthwise of the mattress-body to'admit of more compact folding.

Other advantages will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is

l. A mattress comprising a body formed of a series of longitudinal sectionsv flexibly connected at their contiguous top edges, ventilating-heads at the ends of said sections, and pads partly inclosing the Ventilating-heads, substantially as described.

2. A mattress comprising a body formed of a plurality of independent sections-each provided with padded ends, and perforated ventilator-heads arranged in and partly inclosed by the padded ends for communication with the mattress-sections, substantially as set forth.

3. A mattress comprising a body formed of a plurality of independent sections each of which is provided with padded ends, and ventilator-heads within the padded ends of each section of the body, said ventilator-heads conforming to the cross-sectional shape of the sections and'provided with Ventilating-openings, substantially as set forth.

4. A mattress comprising a body formed of a plurality of independent parallel sections having. covering-flaps extended from their ends, and Ventilating-heads fitted within the opposite ends of each section of the body and IOO IIO

sides, certain of said ooveringiaps being padded to forni end cushions for the bodyseotions, substantially as set forth.

5. A mattress comprising a body having a In testimony that I claim the foregoing as series of independent sections, each provided l my own I have hereto affixed my signature in at the opposite ends thereof with a plurality the presence of two Witnesses. of covering-flaps forming extensions of the covering for the sections, and Ventilating- JAMES W CASE' heads fitted within the opposite ends of each adapted to have said cover-flaps folded upon l and secured to their outer sides, substantially asset forth.

Witnesses:V

CYNTHIA E. WEBB, FLORENCE MEAD.

section, and adapted to have the covering- I flaps folded down and secured to their outer 

